Centrifugal turbine pump



May 9, 1950 T. C. GOODN ER CENTRIFUGAL TURBINE PUMP Filed March l5, 1948y 2 Sheets's-Sheet 1 ATTGRNEYS May 9, 1950 T. c. GooDNER 2,506,827

CENTRIFUGAL TURBINE PUMP me@ March 15, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE CENTRIFUGAL TURBINE PUMP Theodore C. Goodner, Rocky Ford, Colo.

Application March 15, 1948, Serial No. 14,881

4 Claims. l

This invention relates to a pump unit which can in general be described as a close-coupled motor pump designed particularly, though not necessarily, for submersible use.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a pump i the type described which, by reason of the novel assembly and arrangement of its component parts, will improve generally upon the construction and operation of similar pumps previously devised.

Some specic objects of the invention are to provide a pump that Will be of simple design, with few parts; which will be of minimum outside diameter so as to be easily installed in small diameter well casings; will be capable of easy assembly at time of manufacture; will be deliverable to a purchaser as a packaged unit readily capable of installation without need of skilled help; will be operable cheaply and with minimum maintenance; and will be very durable despite its relatively low cost.

Briefly, the invention comprises a cylindrical outer casing; an inner assembly which as a single unit is insertable in the outer casing or shell, the inner assembly comprising a sealed motor casing in which runs a motor within an air or gas-filled space, a pump chamber, and a lubricating chamber between the motor casing and pump chamber equipped with a double seal and remotely controlled; and remote means for controlling pressure of a lubricating medium in the lubricating chamber and for supplying power to the motor.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the device, parts remaining in elevation, and other parts being broken away.

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 is a cylindrical outer casing substantially smoothwalled both inside and out. To the upper end of the outer casing is secured the generally conical head G centrally formed with an internally threaded discharge port 'l receiving the discharge pipe P, that is not part of the present invention. Discharge pipe P would normally, though not necessarily, serve as support for the pump assembly.

Aligning bosses (Figures 1 and 2) are rigidly secured to the inner surface of head 6 and serve as abutments and aligning means for the upper end of an inner assembly insertable in the outer casing, and which will be described in detail hereinafter.

The lower end of the outer casing 5 is threaded as at 9 to receive an inlet cover IG having a central opening il.

The parts so rar described constitute an outer casing or shell assembly, in which is insertable the unitary inner assembly, which will now be described.

This includes a cylindrical motor casing I2 threaded at both ends, and of a diameter suinciently smaller as compared to that of the outer casing as to denne an annular passage for pumped liquid. Threaded into the upper end of the motor casing is a conical head that constitutes a motor cover and a bearing support. The aligning bosses 3 could, as readily seen, be cast integral with motor cover l 3, as a construction alternative to that described above. The motor cover is designated i3, and the marginal portion of its inner surface is preferably formed with a plurality of radial cooling fins I4. A life-time lubricated bearing l5 is mounted centrally in the head, and constitutes a journal for one end of the motor shaft.

Seated in the motoi chamber defined by the motor casing l2 is an electric motor that includes a stator I6 and a rotor I'l to which is keyed the motor shaft I8.

Closing the lower end of the motor chamber is a lower bearing supportJ I9 which is threaded into the lower end of the motor casing, and which supports centrally a bearing 20 similar to the upper bearing I5. Shaft I8 extends downwardly through the bearing 2G. The bearing support I9 is cast with an annular catch basin 2|.

The inner wall of the central opening of the bearing support I9 has cast on it an annular seat 22 on the top of which is seated the lower bearing 29. Fitted into this seat and slightly spaced from the bearing 2i! is a seal member 23. A seep oil passage 24 provided in the wall of the central opening and extending away from the space between bearing 2Q and seal member 23, extends into the catch basin 2l.

The seal member 23 comprises one part of a mechanical seal that also includes another seal member 25 which is normally pressed against the seal member 2?; so that the seal faces of the two members are in tight engagement as at 25. This sealing engagement is maintained by spring 2 that is also part of the seal assembly and which is held under compression between the seal member 25 and a seal assembly collar 23 secured, as by threading, to the shaft I8.

As readily seen from Figure l, the support It additionaliy d'eh'e'sth'eside wall of a lubricating chamber lthe lowerend of which is closed by a seal plate 2S threadedly connected to the support I S. This also has a central opening through which shaft I3 extends, and in which openingis fitted a seal generally designated at Si) and of identical formation with the -seal .already 1described. It may be noted at this point that .both the upper and lower seal are similarly positioned, that is the spring in each case presses 'one f'seal member upwardly against the other seal member.

However, `the .distinction Vis to be noted, fas to the upperV and nlower seal, that'the upper .seal .is disposed `within the .lubricating chamber `previously mentioned, while the lower seal 4is idisposed within the pum-p .or .impeller chamber.

It is .understood that `a device lof 4this charac- Vter will most generally be mounted within-a well casing, and will be submerged. In `this .connection, I provide an oil reservoir -3-I Awhich would most usually be disposed remote from the lrest of the .devicaas .on the ground surface. This-has a 'filler plug 32,-and extending from the reservoir is an oil supply tube 33 which is `coupled fatthe upper `end .of the `enterprising, asat 3d so Las Ato communicate with a tube .35 downwardly extended -betweenvthe outer casing and motorcasing, and vfeeding into the lubricating compartment Aor chamber 3.95. `Coupling 34 should -be packed to prevent leakage.

YPower terminals 37 may be mounted on the reservoir 3l, and from these extend leads 33 which can be .extended directly through the oil tube @tif desired. Leads v38 extend through an insulatedbushing .39 mounted in the support I9, and supply power .to the motor through motor leads lili. .These leads might be of suitable type suppliedexternally of the oil .tube` and connecting into the motor through conical head 6 of outer shell .andmotor .cover I3 by sealed means.

The .lower .endof the shaft .I8 extends downwardly into the pump chamber, and-has secured toit the impeller 4|.

Diffusion vanes d2 are secured to the outer surface of the support I9, .in a radial arrangement, vasbest Yseen from Figure 3. 4 It may be noted in thisregard .that the tube i155 isaligned longitudinally with one of these vanes, so .that the .tube assists in proper channeling of pumped huid, and in any event, does .not interfere with the desired path which .the `iluid takes-in being led to .the Ydischarge pipe P.. f

The 'diffusion vanes are so formedattheir lower ends as to Yengage the marginal portion of .the inlet cover IU as shown at :43, `and additionally, the vanes have a snug nt against the inner wall of Ythe outer casing when theinner `assembly of the device is mounted inthe outer casing.

If desired a strainer I4 vcan be secured within the .opening IIof theinlet cover. Also, a suction pipe, not shown, might be attached -to the inlet cover.

When the parts Aare assembled as in Figure l, it will be seen that a uid passage .45 is .denned between the outer casing 5 and .the inner assembly. This passage isffree of obstructions which might 'd otherwise tend to deflect the fluid as it passes through the structure.

In assembling the pump, the inner assembly comprising the motor casing and parts contained therein, support I9 and parts contained therein, the impeller, and the tube 35, and additionally, the diusion vanes 42, is assembled during manufacture remote from the outer casing and associated parts. Then, to complete assembly of thepump, it is necessary only to insert the re motely assembled inner portions as a unit inside the outer shell. In doing so, the aligning bosses S constitute an abutment and aligning means for one-.end ofthe inner assembly. Additionally, as

the unit is inserted, the diffusion vanes [l2 also constitute an :aligning means for the other end. Then, it is `necessary only to thread inlet cover I into the outer casing 5, and this will engage the lower ends of the diffusion vanes, and will support the entire inner assembly within the outer shell.

To mount the complete structure within a well, is `necessary vonly to thread the discharge pipe P into the head 5, and couple tube 3.3 to the tube 35. Then, the entire device may be submerged, and controlled remotely in a manner which will now lbe described..

:Infdescribing thecontrol .and operation of my device, there should first be noted the fact that the motor chamber is designed tobe sealed. In assembling .theinner parts of the structure, I enclose the .motor in :a space, the motor chamber, that isflled 4wi-tha compressible medium such as air, fgas, or vapor. `No Vattempt is made, during the .assembly, to compress .this medium prior to sealing the motor` chamber, and it is important only .to .note :that the medium `is one which is compressible. Y -Inthis way, turbulence and frictionallossesare at a minimum, and this contributes .to efciency and lower maintenance, `and permits use of a motor rotor andl stator of Ystandard design carried-on-standardlife-time .lubricated ball bearings.

The lubricating compartment 36, however, yis lled ywith a lubricating medium such-asaoil, that is contained in the reservoirl. This .compartmentis not for the pur-pose of. lubricating the impeller., .or the upper or lower shaft bearings. It is, rather, .for the purpose of lubricating and keeping free from abrasive substances the upper and lower seals. The -lower sea'l, which .is -.positioned externally of the lubricating compartment is so arranged that any pressure in the pump chamber is additive to the pressure of the springof this seal,and thus the pressure in the pump compartment forces the seal faces-.of the lowerseal allthemore tightly together, .thusreducing seepage through these faces.

.Howeven if there is a build-up of `pressure Within the lubricating compartment 35, this would Abe subtractive of the spring pressure of the lower seal. In this way, I spread theseal facesrof the lower or external .seal to a slight degree, thereby forcing passage through the seal faces of any water or abrasives contained within the compartment 35. `Such water or abrasives will tend, in devices of this type, to seep into Vthe compartmentf36 overa period of time, and naturally, these abrasives tend'to destroy the effectiveness of the seal. By building up the pressure within thelubricating compartment 36, it becomes possible notonly to flush the water and abrasives 'out and into-the-piunp chamber, thereby flushing the sealffaces free of any abrasive or foreign matter, but alsosuch increase in pressure will'additionally force lubricant between the seal faces of the lower seal 30.

As to the upper seal that is disposed within the lubricating compartment, it will be seen that this internal seal is so positioned that an increase in pressure in the lubricating compartment is additive to the pressure of its spring, thereby forcing the seal faces of the internal seal more tightly together and further tending to prohibit seepage through this seal. Any oil which might seep through this seal will move through passage 24 to the catch basin 2| which is of a size consistent with requirements.

The building up of pressure within the lubricating compartment 36 is readily accomplished by such means as a small pump, not shown, which can be manually or automatically operated and applied to reservoir 3|.

I believe it is further worthy of note that since the motor chamber is lled with a compressible medium, any seepage of oil into the catch basin 2| tends to compress this medium, so that a counteracting pressure is built up within the motor chamber, which pressure would tend as time goes on to retard such seepage.

Additionally, for a fuller understanding of the operation of the device, I believe it should be pointed out that the upper and lower seals are both in like positions, and thus seal against ow or bypass from the pump compartment into the motor compartment any uid being pumped, regardless of the pressure exerted by said fluid in passing through the structure.

To be noted also is the fact that while I have described the compressible medium within the motor chamber as not being compressed at the time of assembly of the parts, yet I believe it is within the spirit of the invention to compress this medium during assembly in desired degree before sealing the motor chamber. It is not critical to the invention that the medium be so compressed, and yet, if this is done, this initially applied air or gas pressure could tend to counteract a portion of the pressure of the lubricating compartment 36, so as to further retard seepage of oil through the internal seal.

In any event, it is a part of the invention that the motor operates in a dry gas atmosphere so as to reduce turbulence and frictional losses to a minimum.

In operation, the structure, by reason of its design, cools the motor by means of the passage of the uid being pumped and passing between the spaced apart walls of the motor casing and outer casing. Additionally, and accompanying the dissipation of heat from the motor through the casing and into the pump liquid, there is a further dissipation of heat through the medium of air within the motor circulating through the cooling fin area.

A singular feature of the pump is the fact that by pressure lubrication of the seals, the pump is particularly adapted for the pumping of water or other liquids that are very dirty or contain a high percentage of abrasives without cause for concern about seal wear and the rapid failure of these parts, permitting entry of damaging liquids into the motor area.

What is claimed is:

1. In a motor pump, an outer shell, an inner assembly including a motor casing spaced from the outer shell to define a passage for pumped liquid, a motor cover on one end of the motor casing, a support on the other end of the motor casing, said cover, support, and motor casing delining a motor chamber, a motor within said chamber, a shaft on the motor and journaled in the cover and support respectively, a seal plate secured to and spaced from the support, said support and seal plate being adapted to define a fluid chamber below the motor chamber, the seal plate and one end of the outer shell being adapted to define a pump chamber in communication with the passage for pumped fluid, one end of the shaft being extended into the pump chamber, seals at the upper and lower ends of the fluid chamber, and means for controlled variation of fluid pressure within the uid chamber to control the engagement of the seal faces of the respective seals, said means including a uid tank remote from and supplying the fluid chamber and adapted for the controlled application of pressure to the tank contents.

2. In a pump, an outer shell, aligning bosses at one end thereof, and an inner assembly adapted for assembly remote from the outer shell prior to insertion therein as a unit, said inner `assembly including a motor casing, a cover on one end thereof adapted for engagement with the aligning bosses, a support secured to the other end of the casing, radial diffusion vanes on the support, said diffusion vanes constituting a means for spacing the inner assembly from the outer shell and for aligning the inner assembly within the outer shell, and means at the other end of the outer shell adapted to engage the diffusion vanes to support the inner assembly within the outer shell.

3. In a motor pump, a cylindrical outer casing, a ported discharge head at one end of the outer casing, a ported inlet cover removably connected to the other end o-f the casing, a` motor casing within and spaced from the outer casing and defining in cooperation therewith an annular passage for pump liquid, a motor cover on one end of the motor casing, a support connected to the other end of the motor casing, a motor within the motor casing, a shaft on the motor and journaled in the motor cover and support respectively, a seal plate connected to the support and defining in cooperation therewith a compartment for lubricating fluid, said seal plate being spaced from the inlet cover to define in cooperation therewith a pump chamber, the shaft extending into the pump chamber, seals at the ends of the compartment for fluid and surrounding the shaft, an impeller on the shaft and within the pump chamber, means cooperating between the outer shell and the motor cover and support respectively for aligning inner portions of the pump Within the outer shell and for permitting assembly of said inner portions 'as a unit prior to insertion in the outer shell, means remote from the pump adapted to retain the fluid compartment filled and to direct pressure against fluid contained in said compartment, whereby to control the sealing action of the seals.

4. In a submersible pump a hollow casing, spaced transverse partitions therein defining a motor chamber and a pump chamber at opposite ends of the casing and a liquid chamber between said motor and pump chambers, said partitions each having an opening, a seal normally closing the opening in the partition separating the motor and liquid chambers and positioned to open only when the pressure within the motor chamber exceeds the pressure within the liquid chamber, a second seal normally closing the opening in the partition separating the liquid .7 chamber ifx'omithe pump :chamber and positioned .to ,fopen `,only when pressure within the liquid chamberfexceedsrpressure within-the pump chamber, a .liquid ill'mg vthe liquid chamber, a tank remote from said -casing and holding a reserve supply of liquid, a conduit communicating between said tank yand liquid chamber, .and said tank :adapted vfor the kControlled `applicafr/ion of pressure to its contents, to keep Athe liquid chamber lled and to-apply hydraulic force to the contents of the liquid chamber,forfcofntrolled change of the pressure within said liquid chamber.

' THEODOREIGGOODNER.

' CIT-ED The following references are of record in the 'file -of i'fl'iis patent:

UNITED 'STATES PATENTS `rNumber `Name Date 849,576 Schulz Apr. 9, 1907 v1,610,726 Arutunoff Dec. 14, 1926 1,879,625 lllendenhall-et al. Sept. 27, 1932 A2,133,487 Spargo Oct. 18, 1938 2,162,486 LeTourneau June 13, 1939 2,217,746 Hawley, Jr Oct. 15, 1940 2,430,509 Hoover Nov. 11, 1947 

